Authenticated Wheat Seeds: Food security programme launched

PESHAWAR: The agriculture department on Wednesday formally launched the Insaf Food Security Programme under which it will give free wheat seeds to farmers in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. At least 1,068,000 farmers are to benefit from the three-year scheme. Any farmer possessing one to three acres of land will be provided with 50kg of authenticated seeds without any charges. In a handout issued on Wednesday, Minister for Agriculture Ikramullah Gandapur inaugurated the programme at Tarnab Farm. It quoted him as saying, “The Insaf Food Programme is a landmark achievement of the incumbent government.” He said it would not only help farmers but also increase wheat production up to 186,000 tonnes. Wheat seeds were distributed among farmers on the occasion. Shah Farman said, “Cash crops like olives and mushrooms could grow in K-P with the help of government support.” He added the present government considered the agriculture sector necessary for development of the province. “Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, the government has embarked upon various schemes for the prosperity of farmers,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2015.